Ritsona camp is located in an isolated industrial area 75 km from Athens. It currently hosts approximately 2,000 people, of whom only half are eligible to receive food.
“I do not want to wake her up in the morning for school. It’s better to sleep and not be hungry.”
Against this backdrop, Lighthouse Relief offers mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) through sports, educational, and recreational activities for ages 3-25.
Since starting this program in Rtisona in 2016, we have come to understand the tremendous impact MHPSS has on residents' lives. It is especially important for those who are too young to remember life outside the camp or who struggle with feeling like prisoners despite having done nothing wrong.
Regular interaction with our caring and highly-skilled team members helps people overcome stress and loneliness and regain a semblance of normalcy. At the same time, our carefully designed activities afford opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence, learn to regulate emotions, and make friends across gender, national, or linguistic lines.
